Playing the Waiting Game for the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy Rivalry

The Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy rivalry is most definitely on hold, and golf fans are the poorer for it.

At the start of the year, it seemed Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were on a collision course to decide who would be the dominant figure in golf.

McIlroy, 24, was the No. 1 golfer in the world and had won four tournaments in 2012, including the PGA Championship. It was the second consecutive year the bold lad from Northern Ireland had won a major.

On the other side, Woods, 37, announced that he was back in form. He was the No. 2 golfer in the world after winning three tournaments. Woods performed poorly in the majors, but he took a huge step back up the ladder after struggling in golf's abyss following his personal peccadilloes that played out with the whole world watching.

In addition to both men being superb golfers, they both were at the top of the charisma ratings. Unlike many great athletes, both McIlroy and Woods have the sizzle factor. You don't just want to check out where they are on the leaderboard. You want to watch them each time they are on the golf course.

McIlroy does it with that confident smile and stride; Woods projects determination and concentration with every swing he takes.

Despite this brilliant competitive recipe, there seems to be respect and friendship between the two. While Woods didn't necessarily look at McIlroy as his equal—because of their gap in age and Woods' long history of success that includes 14 major titles—he certainly recognized McIlroy's talent and ability.

There was no hint of the dislike or disdain that reared its head when Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia were supposed to be the up-and-coming golfers.

The golfing world was prepared for a sensational rivalry. While it wasn't Snead-Hogan or Palmer-Nicklaus, Woods-McIlroy appeared to be a sensational duel.

But through the first half of the year, the Woods-McIlroy rivalry has been pancake flat. The duel for golf supremacy has not existed.

Both men have failed to play their best in golf's showcase events. That's a big part of it, but it is not the whole story.

Woods began the year as if he were going to carry out his part of the bargain. He won four tournaments before the Masters and recaptured the No. 1 spot in the world.

McIlroy didn't come close to repeating his 2012 success. He hasn't won a tournament this year, and the only top-five showing was a second-place finish in the Valero Texas Open. Since the Masters was the next tournament on the calendar after Valero, there was a thought that McIlroy was rounding into form at the right time.

But that was just an illusion, as McIlroy tied for 25th after shooting a 79 in the third round. Moving day, indeed.

Woods has not had any of his magic in the major tournaments either. He finished in a disappointing tie for fourth in the Masters and then had elbow difficulties during the U.S. Open and finished tied for 32nd, only slightly better than McIlroy, who finished tied for 41st.

Woods goes into the British Open saying that his elbow is "fine," but he has not played in a tournament since the U.S. Open. McIlroy competed in the Irish Open in late June, but he failed to make the cut.

A change of equipment was cited as a reason for McIlroy's poor start, but that doesn't hold up as anything other than an excuse. There's little doubt McIlroy is a gifted golfer, but he is no longer in a mini-slump. His drought is quite troubling at this point.

So, the showdown between the two best golfers in the world has had all the excitement of wet fireworks. No color, no explosion and no sizzle.

That does not mean the rivalry won't come to fruition. There's still time this year, and the British Open would be a great place to start.

If that happens, the Woods-McIlroy battle will be joined, and the rivalry will be front and center in the golf world.